Lake Paprocany

Lake Paprocany is an interesting point on the recreational map of not only Tychy, but also of the entire Silesia. The place is great for walking, fishing, canoeing, sunbathing, beach parties and cycling (water bikes and normal bikes). It is a bit worse with bathing, best to do it on the "Wild Beach" on the west side. The level of cyanobacteria is quite often exceeded, therefore bathing is officially forbidden by the Sanitary and Epidemiological Station. Before bathing, you have to check on the Internet whether bathing is allowed on a given day or not. We saw only some people bathe a couple of times, despite of the ban, which testifies to the fact how law-obedient people are.
However, there is a very good alternative to lake bathing: the kids' water playground. This recreation is especially valid for families with children. This playground is a place where kids can have much water fun without having to bathe in the suspicious lake waters.

Lake Paprocany is located in a beautiful, green area on the southern outskirts of Tychy near new housing estates and not far from the border with the village of Kobiór. The lake is surrounded on three sides by a forest. Overall, it has an area of 1.3 sq.km and a circumference of 6 km. The lake is supplied by the Gostynia River. The lake area is a very picturesque and pleasant place for walks at any time of the year.

The name of the lake and of the entire district of Paprocany comes from the Polish name of the fern (Polypodiopsida Cronquist). This name in its old Polish form sounded like "Paprociny". The Germans Germanized the name to Paprotzan. In the document of sale of the Pszczyna estates issued by Casimir II of Cieszyn in Czech on 21 February 1517, the village was mentioned as Paproczany.
The lake area used to be a large pond, who got its water from he River Gostynia that was full of fish. The large pond and numerous smaller ponds in the area allowed the inhabitants of Paprocany to make a living by fishing in the old times. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the village of Paprocany located near the modern-day lake belonged to the princely families of the Promnitz, who were the lords at the castle in Pszczyna. At the end of the sixteenth century, Huta Paprocka was built, where the first blast furnace was built. Cleaning the casing, blower drive and thrower required a lot of water, and the small pond was not enough! In order to meet those needs, the waters of the Gostynia River were piled up and the surrounding meadows and swamps were flooded. Thus, the present lake is an artificial lake created for the needs of the now defunct Huta Paprocka.

The lake information board tells us further that, according to the memories of the residents of Tychy, in the interwar period, when it was the time of autumn fishing, the fish was transported by carts for a few days, and fresh fish was then eaten for a whole year. After World War II, the reservoir was taken over by the State Fish Farm, which farmed carp here. In the fall of 1985, after catching 22 tons of fish, the reservoir was drained and its reclamation was done.

The depth of Lake Paprocany is small – it is maximum 3.5 meters deep, and its average depth comprises 2 meters. At the lake, you can meet numerous, often protected species of fauna and flora (trees, forest animals, birds, fish, crustaceans).

This map shows the areas of the lake: green > forest; yellow > Wild Beach; blue > recreation area; red > sports complex.

Out of more than 80 species of fish living in Poland, in the main waters of Lake Paprocanskie there are over 20 species, including: pike, carp, silver and common crucian carp, catfish, eel, asp, weir, bream, tench, perch, grass carp, lionfish, bleak, stickleback, eelwort, gudgeon. The most common fish are: bream, roach, tench, carp, pike and perch.

The lake is a wonderful and well-kept place and with interesting infrastructure. It is a great family place, perfect not only for summer recreation. On weekends, the main beach in the eastern part of the lake is crowded. This part of the lake is near Pyramid Hotel. You can also approach the lake from its northern side via Nad Jeziorem Street. You can find numerous playgrounds, walking paths, restaurants and cafes between the Pyramid Hotel and the lake shore.

A wooden pier was built next to the beach, where you can rent water equipment (kayaks, pedal boats, boats). The terrace itself is already a great place to sit, but it also offers several levels that create specific benches just above the waterline. Mesh hammocks hang between the piers, on which you can simply lie in the sun. In summer, children like to use them.

Opposite this place, on the western shore of the lake there is the so-called "Wild beach". Normally everyone is bathing there, even when the ban is in force. Lifeguards and uniformed services do not usually keep an eye on that place, but you never know.

There is quite a good quality bicycle path around the Lake Paprocany. The bike path circumference is about 7 km. At the western tip of the lake, you can enter one of the most interesting cycling routes in Silesia, the so-called "Pipeline" - it is a path along the heating line that goes from Paprocany to Rodzinna Street in Kobiór, then you can go further south, to Czechowice-Dziedzice. Cars on the route of the "Pipeline" are extremely rare, and there are also few pedestrians.
Promnice Hunting Lodge, a 19-century hunting residence of the Duke of Pless, is located on the lake shore and is subjected to the neighboring village of Kobiór,. During our walk around the lake, we had some rest here.

Promnice Hunting Lodge, Tychy

Another visit to the Promnice Hunting Castle, Tychy

The water equipment renting prices are as follows (PLN/ hour):

• two-seat water bike – PLN 15;
• four-seat water bike – 20;
• two-seat water bike 3+ family members – 7.50;
• four-seat water bike 3+ family members – 10;
• kayak + three family members - 6.

In the area of Lake Paprocany and in its immediate buffer zone, there are over 350 species of plants, including 17 typically water species and about 40 above-water species. Among them, 15 species are in the Silesian Red Book of Plants, and two species are listed in the Polish Red Book of Plants. Legally protected plants occurring in Lake Paprocany include: white mycelium, yellow water lily, water walnut and round leaf sundew.

The Lake Promenade, Tychy